Good day, League players. I am Lighter Day, I am a Gold 4 Jungle main, and this is my guide to playing Kayn, the Shadow Reaper. Playing as Kayn takes a bit of skill as you need to know when to fight and when to fall back. However, once you start understanding this, ganking and fighting will become easy. Kayn is a fun champ with his build and his abilities in both farms, and he's a champ that I hope you enjoy playing as well. Below are the first things to know about Kayn: his abilities. Below are the abilities of each form of Kayn and what they do. Read them all to get a better understanding of the champ.

Base Kayn

Passive: The Darkin Scyhte: As Kayn damages enemy champions, he builds up points that will allow him to transform into one of two forms: Shadow Assassin (Blue) or Rhaast (Red). To become Shadow Assassin, attacking ranged champions will help you achieve this form. To become Rhaast, melee champions are the way to go.

Q- Reaping Slash: Kayn dashes a short distance, then spins his blade at the end of the dash.

W- Blade's Reach: Kayn raises his blade and drops it down in a straight line. Enemies damaged by Blade's Reach are slowed.

E- Shadow Step: Kayn can travel through walls and structures, gains movement speed, and heals for a percent of his attack damage.

R- Umbral Trespass: Kayn can travel into an enemy he recently damage. Once an enemy is selected, Kayn can either wait four seconds or reactivate his ultimate to leave and do damage to his opponent.

Shadow Assassin

Passive- The Darkin Scythe, Kayn: Kayn deals bonus magic damage for the first four seconds in combat. This ability is put on an eight second cooldown after.

Q- Reaping Slash: Kayn dashes a short distance, then spins his blade at the end of the dash.

W- Blade's Reach: Blade's Reach range is increased and allows you to move while casting it.

E- Shadow Step: Shadow Step now prevents Kayn from being effected by slow abilites, gains additional movement speed, and has a reduced cooldown.

R- Umbral Trespass: Range for Umbral Trespass is increased and resets the cooldown on Kayn's passive.

Rhaast

Passive- The Darkin Scythe, Rhaast: Rhaast heals for a percentage of damage dealt to enemies.

Q- Reaping Slash: Rhaast dashes forward and spins his blade at the end, dealing a percentage of the enemies health as damage.

W- Blade's Reach: Rhaast raises his scythe and drops it to damage and knock-up enemies it hits.

E- Shadow Step: Able to move through walls and structures, healing you for a percentage of your attack damage.

R- Umbral Trespass: Rhaast goes into an enemy he recently damaged. After four seconds or reactivating his ult, he deals and heals for a percentage of the target's maximum health.

If you're reading this guide, you probably still have questions about Kayn and if he is a fun champion or if he is an easy champion. Hopefully, my responses will help you understand how Kayn works

Q: How will I know what runes to take?

A: Examine the enemy team during champ select. An easy indicator in deciding forms is this: does the enemy team have at least two tanks? Does my team lack a tank? If the answer is yes to at least one of these questions, then it is best to go Rhaast. Otherwise, go Shadow Assassin.

Q: Can I switch forms in the middle of game?

A: No. Once you select a form to transform into, you are stuck like that for the rest of the game. However, if you are uncertain, you can stay base Kayn for as long as you like until you decided what would be best.

Q: What if their team has a balance between squishies and tanks?

A: If it is balanced between the two, it is better to go Rhaast since you have to deal with tanks still. Kayn will do damage, but Rhaast will ensure kills on tanks.

Q: Why not switch builds to build tank on Kayn and damage on Rhaast?

A: Each build is designed specifically for each form. You can swap builds, but to get better use, it is best to stay with a build at least similar to what is stated above.

Q: What happens if I'm behind because I have to gank often?

A: Take a few minions from the lanes you gank. Every second away from jungle is taking experience and gold, so tax a bit after ganking a lane.

First jungling as Kayn, you should start at the raptor camps. If you started with your Q, then you shouldn't need a leash. Also, don't smite the raptor camps or red buffs. Save smite for krugs. This way, you can stay in jungle for longer and build up both gold and exp. After krugs, and once you hit level 3 for your E, use it to gain back some health. You could start ganking once you get your E, but I usually do it at level 4 once I get my jungling item. This makes it easier to build up to my transformation. Once your ganking starts, then you get to start thinking about your transformation choice.

When building up to transform, keep these things in mind. One, analyze what your team needs and analyze what they enemy team has. Do they have nothing but squishies and do you have at least one tank? Shadow Assassin is the way to go. Do you have nothing but squishies and they enemy team has a good amount of tanks? Rhaast will be the one to choose. Two, once you realize which form you will take, prioritize your ganking. To get Rhaast, you will need to attack melee champions, so attacking melee enemies will help you transform quicker. To get Shadow Assassin, you need to attack ranged champions, so going to lanes with ranged champions will help. However, don't worry. If you want to go Rhaast, but bot is struggling to the point that you have to camp, you will be given the option to transform to Rhaast after three minutes when transformation is available. You can also remove five seconds for your other form by attacking champions that will help said form (ranged for Shadow Assassin, melee for Rhaast). Once the victor between the two is decided, then comes the next part: the build.

Should Rhaast be the ultimate victor, follow the build as suggested above. Build as a bruiser to get the most out of Rhaast's healing factor. Spirit Visage is a must, but depending on how many AP are on the enemy team, it can wait until after Deadman's Plate. Keep in mind that when you turn into Rhaast, your healing won't have major effects. You'll still be as squishy as you were in your base form. Rushing a Black Cleaver gives you the necessary health as well as do damage against the enemy tanks. As a bruiser, you have to keep the enemy off your teams damage. In team fights, save your W for when the enemy team is charging in on your ADC. The knock-up will also provide an opportunity to focus on one person. As Rhaast, you shine more as the game progresses, so if you make it to mid or late game, you will do more against the enemy team in terms of damage and healing.

It is a must to have at least Black Cleaver in your build if you are fighting against enemy tanks, but if it seems like your items aren't doing it, here are some replacement ideas for Rhaast.

Sunfire Cape: A basic item that is useful. While using your ult, Sunfire Cape still works, damaging the enemy while you remain inside them.
Thornmail: Another basic item. It's useful for, well, basic attacks from your enemy. Works well against a fed ADC or fed Nasus.
Adaptive Helm: If against a champion like Teemo, Heimerdinger or Brand, Adaptive Helm helps lessen the damage you may take from them while in combat.
Zz'Rot Portal: It gives a balance between armor and MR, and if you are backdooring, helps with that.

Should Kayn (Shadow Assassin) become the victor between the two, damage is a must first. Duskblade provides high damage when combined with either Kayn's ult or his E. Keep in mind Kayn's new passive, so when you enter combat for the first time and you have your ult, damage the enemy with a basic ability or attack, then wait two seconds before popping your ultimate on them. This results in an automatic reset on your passive, higher damage being done, and can put the enemy back in fountain. As Shadow Assassin, squishies are your food. With Boots of Mobility, chilling smite, and an eventual Deadman's Plate, you will go through the walls quickly and can catch the enemy off guard. While Kayn can do damage against tanks, too, it is best to focus on the enemy squishies like ADC's, support or any champ that does not build tank or bruiser. With Kayn's E, you can sneak up behind the enemy while during a fight. Catching them by surprise will make the enemy team go into a panic as they now have to fight a two-front fight. However, keep in mind also that Shadow Assassin is good for about to early to mid game. Depending on the enemy team, late game will be a challenge as Kayn, so if it results to the game going that long, always keep your focus on the enemy ADC. This will help your team come in and clear out the remaining since the enemy carry is dead.

No, Rabadon's Deathcap won't work. And you're pushing it if you try Void Staff. But there are other weapons that work well with Shadow Assassin, or at least decent. In no particular order, these items could work with Shadow Assassin, or Kayn.

Death's Dance: Q will give a healing bonus for damage done, so stacks well with Kayn's passive.
Youmuu's Blade: Gives bonus movement speed to chase enemies as well as give lethality to add to the finishing blow.
Last Whisper: Good ol' reliable if there is a tank that is giving you too much trouble. Upgrade Last Whisper into whichever weapon, depending on the target.
Edge of Night:Banshee Veil for AD, this is useful if their team has a lot of CC and Mercurial doesn't seem to cut it. Also, in my opinion, this is much better than Mercurial since you can protect yourself rather than having to be attacked by a spell, taking damage, then using the Mercurial.

It is best to prioritize your ganks when thinking about transforming, but also keep in mind that you are one of the best gankers in game. Kayn's E allows you to go quickly from one lane to another and this will help when you feel that you have to be everywhere at once. If you're upset that you got the form for one ready when you wanted the other, it's okay. Just wait the three minutes or attack champions to help the other form. Base Kayn is still useful in fights. Along with being an ultimate ganker, Kayn can also sneak in to attack enemy structures if they are low like inhib, turrets, or an open nexus. Just remember that, no matter what form, no matter how high the damage you do or how good your team is doing, do not get cocky. Cockiness will make any form of Kayn useless and may cause you or your team to get salty. Even if you are 20/0, treat your enemy as if they are Diamond 1 21/0. Good luck to you in your future games and may the best form win! If you have any other questions, feel free to comment and ask.